5 Foolproof Ways to Make Money While Traveling

As you lay on the beach in the Caribbean or sightsee through Europe for vacation, most likely you hit that moment where you wish the trip would never end. Being on the road permanently always sounds like a fine idea until you crunch the numbers. How could anyone afford to travel indefinitely? Despite what the critics might say, it is possible to earn money while traveling. If you want to pick up a job here and there, you simply need the right strategy in place to master the never-ending trip.

1.) See If You Can Work Remotely

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If you’re serious about traveling and still earning an income, it never hurts to begin with your current job. Perhaps you love your job but your work could easily be done remotely. Meet with your superiors and ask if this is an option. Should you get the green light, you won’t have to worry about finding a job on the road in a set location. You can move around and keep doing what you love to do in the process. If you hate your job, there are loads of jobs that can be done remotely. From writing to web design work, many jobs only require an Internet connection. Make a list of your skills, and see if you can make your own job from the road whether it be consulting, translating, editing, or social media marketing.

2.) Use Your Knowledge of English to Land a Gig

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For those who would love to travel the world and still get paid, you often have a skill that many job seekers want. Your knowledge of English can generally be advantageous while you travel looking for work. If you’ve found a nice spot to stay in for a while, you can visit local schools and inquire about teaching positions and tutoring gigs. They can often point you in the direction of paid work where your knowledge of English is needed. Taking it to a more long term level, you can always get certified to teach English abroad and score more high paying work. Also, if you’re traveling in a foreign country, restaurants without English menus or ones that need serious editing might need your English services too.

3.) Try Apps and Social Media to Pick Up Odd Jobs

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Perhaps you just want to pick up some extra cash here and there as you travel. You aren’t seeking something permanent or a position that will tie you to one place. If you’re running low on your travel funds, don’t panic. You can begin with your social network. Send a Tweet or post on Facebook seeing if anyone in your network knows of someone who needs help where you’re traveling. You might be surprised just how connected you are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If your social network fails, you can also find odd jobs through several apps. Field Agent is an app that allows you to find odd jobs near you. Typically, you’ll be asked to check on a store display, do a price check or consumer survey. The jobs pay from $3 to $12. Gigwalk is a similar app that shows you jobs near you, paying anywhere from $3 to $100.

4.) In Tourist Areas, Seek Out Hostels, Bars and Restaurants for Work

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Hostels, hotels, bars, and restaurants in tourist areas will always have a need for an extra set of hands. Especially if it’s the high season, you can spend a day popping in various restaurants and hostels to see if they need someone like you for a job. From waiting tables to manning a hostel desk, if you have multi-lingual skills, these positions can be even easier to acquire. Even if you are the tourist, the tourist industry tends to need extra hands, especially during the high season.

5.) Reach Out to Tour Operators As You Travel

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If you want to keep traveling as long as possible but you can’t seem to find extra cash, tour operators might be the ticket to your success. Grab a list of tours where you’re traveling. Contact each one to see if they need help promoting their tours or actual help conducting their tours. You often won’t have to work long hours, and the work can be as simple as passing out flyers or putting snorkel masks away post dive trips.

It sounds like the ultimate dream, traveling without end. Many might gloss over how easy it is to travel the world and earn a living. In the end, it can be hard work. With a careful strategy and armed with your own set of skills, finding cash on the road doesn’t have to be a challenge.

Have you earned an income while traveling? Share your tips for finding some extra cash on the road.

About The Author

Suzy Guese is a travel writer from Denver, Colorado. She caught the travel bug after taking her very first flight at just three months old—she was headed for Disney World—and has been a total travel junkie ever since. From family car trips across North America to stints abroad in Europe, Suzy travels the globe with her redheaded temperament in search of sarcasm, stories, and travel tips to share with anyone willing to listen. She blogs about her travels at http://suzyguese.com.

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